Renal artery intervention in pediatric and adolescent patients: a 20-year experience

Between 1986 and 2005, 22 patients (mean age, 14.7 years; range, 3-21) with renal hypertension underwent renal artery revascularization for 28 lesions, 23 with open repair (OR) and 5 with percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA). Thirty-day morbidity was 17% (4/23). Hypertension was cured in 13 (57%), improved in 8 (38%), and unchanged in 1 (5%). Renal function worsened in 1. At a mean follow-up of 4.9 years, 1-year patency rate was 94% and maintained for 5 years. Hypertension at 1 year was cured in 6 of 14 patients (43%; OR, 4; PTRA, 2) and improved in 8 (57%; OR, 7; PTRA, 1); hypertension at 5 years was cured in 50% and improved in 50%. Renal function remained unchanged in all patients who were followed. The authors conclude that both OR and PTRA benefit pediatric patients. PTRA for selected patients may be promising as a first line treatment or as a bridge to definitive OR in children with small arteries.